It is my experience that a great majority of large problems can be resolved in the workplace through the simple, yet powerful art of listening. Listening is one of those attributes that separates average managers from great ones.
When I say problems here, I am referring all across the spectrum. From the sales, HR, accounting, customer realtions and employee motivation. There is simply nothing that beats listening as the key ingredient to level the great majority of mountains before they can even rise.
One of the great relief valves for employees is to know that they are being listened to and heard. This doesn't mean that everything they say will have the proper perspective or even by right, but if you let it grow and grow, it can take on a life of its own and spread across your business or department.
Here's the bottom line in this area: those employees that are highly motivated and truly committed will always want to work toward excellence in what they do. The higher their commitment, the stronger they will work to find answers to the problems before them.
Now where does commitment come from? Ownership. They must not only feel, but know that they have ownership in whatever it is they are doing. Ownership comes from having the empowerment to influence.
How does that happen? To know they have influence, an employee must know that they are being listened to and heard, and being taken seriously in being answered.
Quality employees will know that not everything they offer or suggest can be implemented. But to know that it is being considered, is part of the ownership process. That along with seeing that that suggestions by other workers are influencing the quality of the work.
To do this there has to be a leader/manager in place that knows how to really listen.
Sponsored link: The outsourcing every manager requires - Tampa Locksmith
Comment Preview